NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance As 807 People Go Missing In Delhi In January
NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance As 807 People Go Missing In Delhi In January
M.U.H
10/02/202627
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of reports indicating that 807 people went missing in Delhi during the first two weeks of January 2026, raising serious concerns over public safety and possible human rights violations.
According to data cited from the Delhi Police, the missing persons include 191 minors and 616 adults. While police have managed to trace 235 individuals, as many as 572 people remain untraced so far.
Observing that the contents of the media report, if true, point to grave human rights issues, the NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Government of NCT of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, seeking a detailed status report within two weeks.
The Commission also took note of broader missing persons data highlighted in the report dated February 5, 2026. It stated that 24,508 people were reported missing in Delhi in 2025 alone, with nearly 60 per cent being women. Of these cases, police were able to trace 15,421 individuals, while 9,087 cases remain unresolved.
Particularly alarming, the data underscores the heightened vulnerability of teenagers. Since 2016, more than 5,000 teenagers have gone missing every year in Delhi, including around 3,500 girls annually, pointing to a persistent and systemic challenge.
The NHRC said it will closely monitor the response from the Delhi government and police authorities, stressing the need for urgent and effective measures to safeguard vulnerable populations and ensure accountability in missing persons cases.
